Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia open up the top end

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia announced today the new international and domestic routes between Singapore and Darwin along with the launch of the merged frequent flyer program amidst their recently approved alliance.

Singapore Airlines’ regional full service airline, Silk Air, will begin a service between Singapore and Darwin four times weekly beginning 26 March 2012 with Virgin Australia complementing these services with daily flights between Darwin and Sydney beginning 2 April 2012.

The two airlines will merge their frequent flyer program, enabling KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Virgin Australia’s entire network and vice versa with Velocity members. For eligible customers, reciprocal lounge access is also available.

Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial and SilkAir Chairman, Mr Mak Swee Wah expressed his delight at the addition of Darwin to the network, which provides more travel options for customers as a result of the Virgin Australia alliance.

“Our partnership enables us to better service this important market, particularly with the introduction of a strong business class product and extensive international connections,” Mr Mak Swee Wah said.

Both airlines spoke of the benefits of the reciprocal frequent flyer program, delivering tangible benefits to customers, with more choice for domestic and international travel combined with seamless service.

“From next week, Virgin Australia customers will be able to enjoy the first benefits of the alliance, with the ability to earn and burn frequent flyer points and status credits on Singapore Airlines’ network of destinations and access 14 lounges around the world. We look forward to bringing our customers further exciting benefits as the alliance develops,” Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network & Yield Management Ms McArthur said.

“Darwin is the gateway to the Northern Territory’s popular tourist destinations and is an increasingly important commercial hub. Together with Singapore Airlines we will be able to offer visitors from Singapore, Asia and Europe the opportunity to visit the Northern Territory and then travel on to Sydney and the East Coast of Australia. Our services will also be attractive to business travellers who now have the option of a quality business class service from Sydney to Darwin and on to Singapore and beyond,” Ms McAurthur said.

To accommodate eligible Virgin Australia guests and those of its alliance partners, Virgin Australia also announced that it would open a lounge at Darwin Airport.
Both airlines are expecting to commence codeshare arrangements on each other’s services from early 2012.

Darwin Makes Lonely Planet's Top City List

Darwin has been named as one of the best cities in the world to visit in 2012, ahead of all other Australian destinations.

The Lonely Planet's new travel book on the best things to see and do next year lists Darwin as the 10th best city in the world to visit.

London, home to the 2012 Olympics, is in the top spot, followed by Muscat in Oman, and Bangalore, India.

Other cities that came in ahead of Darwin were Cadiz in Spain, Sweden's capital Stockholm, Guimares in Portugal, Santiago in Chile, Hong Kong, and Orlando in the USA.

"With a pumping nocturnal scene, magical markets and restaurants, and world-class wilderness areas just down the road, today Darwin is the triumph of Australia's Top End," the book says.

"It's now a hip city to visit rather than just the end of the road for lost souls."

Cities in the top ten list were chosen by Lonely Planet's in-house travel experts, based on topicality, excitement, value and that special X-factor, the company said.

Uganda was named as the top country to visit in 2012, followed by Burma, Ukraine, Jordan, Denmark, Bhutan, Cuba, New Caledonia, Taiwan and Switzerland.

As well as the famous Mindil Beach Markets, Darwin is close to a host of national parks including Kakadu, and is the closest major Australian city to Asia.

Visitor numbers to the Northern Territory have dropped in recent times, with figures showing tourist arrivals falling by 9.5 per cent during the 12 months to June 2011.

NT Tourism Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said she was pleasantly surprised to see Darwin on the list, but she wasn't surprised people were impressed by the incredible sunsets, the markets, the nature and the historical sites.

"It puts Darwin certainly on the map as one of the best cities," Ms McCarthy said.

(Source: By Xavier La Canna, ninemsn.com.au)

Gemco $279m a Jobs Boost - Groote Eylandt

A FURTHER 35 workers are to be recruited as part of a $279 million expansion of the Territory's Gemco mine.

The work will increase the capacity of the Groote Eylandt operation from 4.2 million tonnes per year to 4.8 million tonnes.

Capacity to expand further to 5.9 million tonnes will be built into the present expansion.

The job is expected to be finished in late 2013.

The first task will be to increase the capacity of the lump bypass facility, which allows higher-grade ore to bypass some of the concentrator processing.

The port, which is used to export ore to Asia, will also be upgraded.

It is the second expansion of Gemco. The first was completed in 2009.

BHP Billiton owns 60 per cent of the mine and will pay $167 million of the expansion costs.

Anglo-American owns the remaining 40 per cent and will meet the rest of the expense.

BHP's manganese president Tom Schutte said: "The first phase expansion confirmed Gemco's status as the world's largest and lowest-cost producer of manganese ore.

"This second expansion will further enhance Gemco's competitive advantages and create additional options for growth."

Groote Eylandt is Aboriginal land and covers 2260sq km.

Manganese mining began in 1965.

The mine site covers 84sq km on the west of the island and manganese ore is extracted by open-cut, strip mining.

After mining, land is backfilled, topsoil added and the ground revegetated with native plants.

Gemco provides 15 per cent of the world's high-grade ore and is the biggest exporter of manganese.

Metro Hotels Employment Opportunites: Couple with Hospitality Skills Required for Groote Eylandt - NT Award Rates + Live-in + Meals

Dugong Beach Resort is seeking an experienced Chef and Partner with hospitality skills, to join their team. Above award remuneration package will include live-in accommodation in a double air-conditioned en-suite in the Staff Village which is on-site. Meals will also be provided.

Metro Hotels Employment Opportunites: Couple with Hospitality Skills Required for Groote Eylandt - NT Award Rates + Live-in + Meals

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Metro Hotels Employment Opportunites: Dugong Beach Resort: Seeking a Qualified and Experienced Beautician for DAY SPA

Dugong Beach Resort is seeking a qualified and experienced (minimum 2 years) beautician for their DAY SPA, which overlooks the aqua waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Working for the Resort, you and the Day Spa hairdresser - who has an established local and hotel guest client base - will operate the Day Spa.


Therapist services would include the following:
* Body & Facial treatments
* Eyebrow shape, eyelash and eyebrow tint
* Application of make-up
* Manicure and pedicure
* Waxing
* Body Massage
* Cosmetic sales

Read on and Apply:

Metro Hotels Employment Opportunites: Dugong Beach Resort: Seeking a Qualified and Experienced Beautician for DAY SPA

New Managers appointed to Dugong Beach Resort - Metro Hotels

Metro Hotels, the accommodation division of Transmetro Corporation Limited’s Metro Hospitality Group, has appointed husband and wife team, Dennis and Louise Winchester, to manage its resort property Dugong Beach Resort in Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory.

Dennis Winchester has over 30 years management experience in both international hotel groups such as Hyatt International and as a hotel owner in New Zealand. Dennis was also senior General Manager for Peppers Hotel Group in Australia and was involved in the restructuring of the Group. Throughout his career, Dennis was chairman of the Queenstown Promotion Board New Zealand.

New Managers appointed to Dugong Beach Resort - Metro Hotels